A weekend slower than usual...

This past weekend, we didn't pack in as much as we normally do.  Saturday morning we hit the first showing of "Born to be Wild" at the IMAX, and that was pretty cool.  The 3d effects were super, putting you right into the jungle and the savannah following orangutans and elephants that were orphaned and being raised by humans...it was a really neat story.  Then we went and hung out at EMP for a couple of hours.

 William expanding his mind at Seattle Center!

How is she doing that?  Megan in the anti-gravity mirror.

 Elizabeth riding the fish :)

Whale's tail...

On Sunday, we started out at the skate park, but it was pretty intimidating because there were lots of bigger kids there and more than a few bikes.  Bikes make it dangerous because they don't follow the same lines as skateboarders, and I wonder if they are even looking sometimes.  Leaving there, we headed for the "zip-line park" and had some good play time :)

 On the merry-go-round

 Monkey bars

William getting ready to launch as Elizabeth looks on...

I think the other parents cringe when we are there, because my three are daredevils on the zip line, wanting to be spun around and launched fast!  I gotta say they come by it honestly!  

I feel so blessed to be spending time with them.  Last night we went bowling!  It was fun as heck with Elizabeth getting a high score of 102!  I think I scored somewhere in the 60's <ugh>.  

Ice rinks, skate parks, pumpkins and ponies :)

This weekend was a pretty full weekend for us!  We started at the library on Friday and picked up books and a movie and for dinner Elizabeth made some rockin' spaghetti sauce for us, got up Saturday morning and got started!

First, we went to a wet and deserted skatepark

Megan kicking her board

home for lunch and then off to the ice rink

 Elizabeth and Dad

 Megan and Dad

 William and Dad

 The four of us on skates

 Future figure skater?!

Future hockey player?!

And on Saturday night we carved pumkins!    

 Bat Cat Pumpkins by E and M, Grave Yard by W, the supposed to be a scary face (the one with all the holes in it) by myself, and the Ghosts by Sandy

Sunday we chilled at home playing Uno and Scrabble, went to a harvest-festival-type-thing for bouncy houses, pony rides, and bobbing for apples. and before you knew it, the weekend was over :( 

Ping Pong Wizard there on the left!

 Sandy and Snowflake

A hat someone got a steal on!

This was my latest hat almost done.  I got it done and blocked out without taking a full picture of it, but you get the idea I hope.  It went to the charity auction and someone got it for next to nothing.  I bid on it too, I liked it!  

Climbing in the Wallowas

Last weekend, Woody, Mark, and I went climbing in the Wallowas in Eastern Oregon.  We met up in Portland and drove my rig out to Two Pan trail head up the Lostine River with our sights set on climbing Glacier Mountain.

Glacier Mountain is about 6 miles and 4,000 ft above the trail head.

Mark coming across the river.

A swimming hole.

Me, just below the summit, getting ready for some 3rd/4th class terrain.

Is that Roasty on the summit?!

Mark filling up water bottles in the meadow after the climb, only 5 miles left to camp.

It was really cool to climb with Woody again, after so long, and I am kind of proud of myself for sticking with it to the summit.  

Skate Park Weekend

This past weekend with the kids was pretty chill :)  They brought their scooters and on Saturday morning we headed to the skate park.  As they were skating, it was announced that free classes were going to start shortly, and if anyone wanted to participate, they would get a loaner board and helmet.  All three jumped in line and  grabbed a board! (Will in orange, Megan in stripes, and Elizabeth in yellow)


After the class we headed home and had lunch, and then chilled out, played games (I suck at battleship!) and watched a movie.  As it was getting closer to bed time, we took turns building a story.  It was a lot of fun!

Sunday morning, Elizabeth got up early and made me coffee before breakfast!  After breakfast, it was back to the skate park...no boards on Sunday, just scooters, and we had the park pretty much to ourselves.  Then we headed to Luna Park cafe for milkshakes and lunch!

 On the way home from lunch, the freeways were a nightmare because of Obama's visit, so instead of heading back to the skate park, we headed home and watched a movie on tv, then played Uno until it was time for the trek to Tukwila.  Lots of fun :)

It's Friday!

A very nice day too I might add :)

Working from home...

looking out the window, wishing that the summer hadn't gone by so quick.  Not that it wasn't exceptional, it was just too darned quick...and things don't seem to be slowing down at all either.  I already have plans well into October!

I have been taking the kids to music lessons for the past few months.  Every Tuesday.  They seem to get cranky about going, but always have a real good time once they get there.  Not sure if I had mentioned that when Nathan was up here last month, we all took an instrument and formed a "band!"  The instructor was quite impressed with Nathan's guitar playing.  Last night it was Megan on drums, Elizabeth on keyboard, and William on guitar...quite a joyous cacophony! Elizabeth would look over at me and wink at me, big ol' smile on her face,  William was hitting the chord changes right on time, and Megan was bobbing her head and banging on the drums doing her best to keep time for "the band."  Totally fun to watch!

Woody and I are going to the Wallowas soon.  He has quite an ambitious itinerary for us it seems.  I am getting stoked for that.  I need some time in the backcountry.  Must remember to bring some hunter orange to wear...not wanting to get shot at.  I wish Sandy could go.   Other than that, MPK and I have plans to go hiking in a few weeks, most likely a day trip unless I can talk Sandy and him into an overnighter.

As for the group I am working with here in Seattle, they are moving forward gangbusters.  Quite fun, but a lot of work.

Well, thats about it for the news.  Back to work for this kid.  I will try not to stare out the window....